Anyone thrilled with their PRS SE?

walnutzz

walnutzz

Inspired
Hi all. My main guitars are all on the high end, but I’m looking to add a PRS SE model to stash at another location I frequently visit. I’ve watched many reviewers rave about the SE DGT, but I’m wondering what other models are contenders such as an SE Silver Sky or McCarty. Style is less important to me than value. In other words I want the most bang for the buck (closest to a core) rather than which models lend themselves toward certain musical styles. Thanks in advance for your input.
 
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I love my Standard 24 SE and 245 SE....
 
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There’s so many to choose from. I own 3 Core PRS and the SE’s that have caught my eye lately are…
SE SWAMP ASH SPECIAL
SE NF3
SE SWAMP ASH CE 24 — "SANDBLASTED" LIMITED EDITION
SE DGT (but the Gold Top which I think is not easy to come by)
SE CE 24
Any of the SE McCarty 594’s (single or double cut)

The SE Silver Sky’s have always been an attractive deal, but I think I would like the Core Silver Sky better. I Don’t know if any of this helps or makes things worse.
 
I bought a new SE DGT (Tobacco Sunburst) 9 months ago, based on all the positive reviews and after i played it in the shop. I played it exclusively for a month, but there was something in the sound i didn't like, i cannot describe what it was... A few months ago I sold it.
 
I love my se silver sky.
Thanks
Pauly
walnutzz said:
Hi all. My main guitars are all on the high end, but I’m looking to add a PRS SE model to stash at another location I frequently visit. I’ve watched many reviewers rave about the SE DGT, but I’m wondering what other models are contenders such as an SE Silver Sky or McCarty. Style is less important to me than value. In other words I want the most bang for the buck (closest to a core) rather than which models lend themselves toward certain musical styles. Thanks in advance for your input.
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Love my DGT SE, it has very rich tones and good build quality. The only hassle I have had was the pickup selector switch being very stiff; so I popped a new one in and have no other issues.

I'm comparing that to my much more expensive Gibson, and other guitars for reference.
 
Hi
I have 8 PRS guitars
1 PRS cu24 bought new ❤️
a PRS custom 24 SE 25th anniv bought new
A zach myres sig bought second hand ❤️
Tremonti bought 2nd hand with emg pups in don't play much
245 se bought 2nd hand ❤️
Single cut 22 fret bought 2nd hand and put drgn 2 pups in ❤️
PRS EG SE bought second hand upgraded Single coil pups use this for floyd songs this is the reason I haven't bought a silver sky
Custom 22 SE pups are wicked on this all stock ❤️

Got an itch for a mccarty 594 s2 over the se at the moment purely because they have upgraded the s2 pups to 'LT' from 's' but there aren't any available in uk yet as the stock is still old, however I did see andertons had a McCarty 594 se standard for sale at £580 and ever with 'S' pups is interesting , I like the idea of the coil tap options on the 594 electronics which I think is why I fancy it other than a case of gas

In another 6 months you'll be able to pick up a dgt or a 594 se second hand at bargain prices because there the latest darlings in the prs stable

G \../
 
Korean SE245 really good great action no buzzing, happy with the P90’s it came with. Keeper.

Indonesian SE Paul’s Guitar. Played well but I just didn’t like the core tone of it. Nice sounding neck pickup. Sold it.

Indonesian SE DGT Goldtop. Sounds great, plays excellent. Nut needs work because of tuning issues. It’s a keeper but I need to buy some files.

That NF3 is something I’m interested in.
 
I have 3 SE’s a Santana, Chris Robertson and a Hollowbody ll (and 1 core McCarty). I use them all regularly and reasonably equally (depends what mood I’m in😃). The Hollowbody and the CR are by far the best of the SE’s (in my opinion) and they all hold up really well against the McCarty.
If I had to decide between them all, it’s the Chris Robertson, one of a limited run of 100 and the mix of US made 57/08 humbucker and P90 is special.
I’d be hard pushed to justify the extra cost of a 2nd hand Core vs another SE.
As ever with subjective opinions YMMV.
 
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I had an SE for a while. I wasn't able to touch the whammy without it going out of tune. I had a new nut put in, and that helped, but not as much as I wanted. I put in locking tuners. That didn't help either. I wasn't thrilled with the sound of the stock pickups, so i changed them out, but everything I put in felt like it was missing something. I also didn't like the taper of the stock pots, so I bored out the holes and put in CTS pots. Ultimately, I just wasn't thrilled with it. I played a Charvel DK24, and it was everything I wanted the PRS to be. Versatile, and the trem is as good as can be expected. So I bought the DK and sold the SE.
 
It's hard to beat the price/value of the SE line. I purchased a Santana SE for my daughter when she began playing, and was amazed at how well it compared to my core models. Not the same, but you definitely feel the lineage in the SE. Now with the Silver Sky and NF3 added to the lineup, there's more than just traditional humbucker options available. It's super easy for me to recommend the SE (or S2, if you want to kick it up a notch) series guitars to anyone looking for a more affordable path into the PRS world.
 
skolacki said:
Korean SE245 really good great action no buzzing, happy with the P90’s it came with. Keeper.

Indonesian SE Paul’s Guitar. Played well but I just didn’t like the core tone of it. Nice sounding neck pickup. Sold it.

Indonesian SE DGT Goldtop. Sounds great, plays excellent. Nut needs work because of tuning issues. It’s a keeper but I need to buy some files.

That NF3 is something I’m interested in.
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I'm wondering about the tuning/nut issues you are experiencing on your SE DGT. I have an Paul's Guitar SE and the G string is sharp when fretting around the 2nd to 5th fret. I was thinking it could be an issue with the nut as well, though I've not attempted any changes yet.
 
For what it is worth: I have posted elsewhere on this forum my experience with my order of a SE DGT. The short answer is compared to my guitars with Fralin pickups, and now compared to my 58 LP RI, the SE DGT was terrible. Good build quality, terrible pickups. Maybe mine was a lemon, maybe I am too particular, but comparing the SE DGT pickups to my Fralin's showed how bland the SE's were. I returned it within minutes. But others here like them, so my advice is buy one where you can return it without a great deal of cost and try it for yourself. Maybe you will like it. I hope so.
 
Just sold my SE McCarty 245 - couldn't get along with the fat neck, but of course that's just a personal thing. Guitar was also VERY light, which to me made it feel "cheap". Couple days ago, I tried the new NF3 with maple fretboard at a local guitar shop. Body and pickups were fine, but the neck itself, again, felt cheap and low quality. But then it is a relatively inexpensive guitar.

Now, my SE Custom 24-08 feels almost as good as my Core Custom 24-08. Love them both.
 
PRS Zach Myers - my fav guitar, and i own much more expensive guitars.
I did change the pickups to the ones that are in Gibson 335 guitars, dont remember the exact model, and now its just amazing guitar.
 
Love my SE's (and S2's and Core's)!!!
SE: Chris Robertson (BSC logo plus signed in paint pen by the whole band), SE CU24 Violet Quilted, SE 594, Old flamed maple Orianthi (Korean),
SE Swamp Ash Special.
 
Isn't it strange that a piece of wood, that grows in a forest, can feel fantastic or cheap?
I have a Pro luthier good friend who taught me several years ago...
Its not the name on the instrument, its THE instrument!
Only you can decide which one is the best one for you.
 
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